Plaid Cymru’s Finance spokesperson has warned that “ConDem” plans for huge cuts to the public sector will hit Wales particularly hard.
Plaid AM Chris Franks described the Westminster managed public sector in Wales as a vital employer and said that planned cuts by the ConDem government could put thousands of jobs under threat. He said that this would have a devastating impact on Welsh communities.
Plaid Cymru’s Finance spokesperson and AM for South Wales Central, Chris Franks, said:
“The Westminster managed public sector is a crucial employer here in Wales. Currently around 30% of the public money coming into Wales is spent directly by the Westminster government. Organisations such as the DVLA, the Tax Office and the Office for National Statistics employ thousands and thousands of people here and any cuts to them would come directly from the ConDem government – the Welsh government wouldn’t get a say on the matter. The ConDem government appear to be completely oblivious to the importance of the public sector as an employer here in Wales and the devastating impact that any job losses in the sector would have on our communities.
“Job losses and cuts in the Westminster managed public sector would also have a huge impact on our private sector. Many small to medium sized Welsh businesses are dependent on the contracts that they have to supply the public sector. Furthermore, businesses in the service and retail industry would inevitably be affected as people would not have the money in their pockets to spend.
“Since the onset of the economic crisis, Plaid in government here in Wales has worked tirelessly to protect the people and communities of Wales. We have worked together with business and workers to ensure that the right policies are in place to help Wales weather the economic storm. We have developed schemes to help people threatened with redundancy or to give assistance to people in danger of losing their homes. However if Cameron goes ahead with the huge cuts he is planning for the public sector it could set the economy of Wales back for generations, just as happened under the last Tory government.”
